There is a significant amount of debate right now regarding the primary care physician shortage. Some are reporting that it is not going to be a problem, others say the situation is critical. Lets look at some of the headlines and figure out the real risks:
1. The average PCP (primary care physician) has around 3000-3500 patients under their care. When factoring in hours worked, paperwork, and administrative time then most patients currently in the system will get about 8-10 minutes a year of actual face time with their PCP.
2. Over 50% of PCP's are 50 or older
3. 32 million more patients will enter the insured system in 2014. There are 208,000 practicing PCP's so that will add on average 150 new patients per physician. This will be much greater in metropolitan areas.
4. Is the government concerned? Yes, something that happened this year under the radar was the opening of 18 new medical schools, wow!
People are currently waiting weeks to months to get their visits with their PCP, if you are healthy and just looking for health guidance or preventative care then you will probably get less than the 8-10 minutes of face time. I personally cannot imagine how this care model works, I spend 10-15 minutes on the physical exam alone, this is already 75% shorter than observed in 2003.
If you are not currently established with a PCP, then I highly recommend that you get in with one prior to January 2014. If you have the ability and access, look for a concierge medical practice where you can get significant face time and guidance because most PCP's are burdened with spending time on the sick-care patients.
Also, consider forgoing conventional health plans, find a high deductible HSA qualified plan and control the money that you would be spending on high premiums.
This maybe true but when you see so many people on drugs and then drugs for the drugs my theory is do not go to a medical doctor unless there is no other choice. Given half a chance your doctor will probably kill you or shorten your life. I have been to a doctor twice in 45 years. both time it was for emergency surgery that was life threatening. Other wise I have educated myself to eat healthy, detoxify, and consult with alternative professionals. Your doctor and your government will not take care of you. You have to take care of yourself. Medicine has stood around for about 100 years and done little to help people except for emergency care. There were virtually no heart attacks, cancer deaths were 3%, no obesity, little diabetes, no auto immune diseases 100 years ago. Twenty years ago there was 1 autistic child out of 10,000. Today there is one child out of fifty with autism. For most conditions you can ask "Doctor what have you done for the people"? The answer is very little but here is a pill that might help (I am just guessing). The system is broke in favor of drug corporations making massive amounts of money. Most agriculture corporations either own or are owned by drug corporations. In other words the people making chemicalized toxic food are the same ones prescribing drugs that don't cure your health problems. Third world countries have better health than people in the USA. Get health insurance for emergency care and eat better so the ill health will go away. bob
Posted by: Bob Bard | 10/03/2013 at 06:57 PM
I certainly do not disagree with your sentiment, I personally have ben very disenchanted with the current system, we have lost our way. There are still many doctors that are waking from the training induced comas, mostly changing focus to functional medicine. The shift needs to be away from sick care and towards well care and lifestyle above medication. Your feelings toward the system are echoed by many, not only patients but doctors as well.
Posted by: Daniel Stickler, M.D. | 10/03/2013 at 07:16 PM